Fatal fuel station blast adds to anger for Ghanians
Ghanaians yesterday pushed the government to improve safety at fuel stations after at least six people were killed in the nation’s capital when a tanker lorry carrying natural gas caught fire, triggering explosions.
The fire and blasts gutted a liquefied gas filling station and a nearby petrol station in the Atomic Junction area of Accra on Saturday night.
“As we speak, six people are dead due to this fire,” said Billy Anaglatey, a Ghana national fire service spokesman. He said 35 others had been injured; four are in critical condition.
The cause of the fire and subsequent explosions is being investigated, said Mr Anaglatey.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Twitter that the government was “resolved, now more than ever, to ensure such an incident does not occur again”.
“My deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
Vice president Mahamadu Bawumia was to visit the scene yesterday, Mr Akufo-Addo said.
One of those who died was killed after jumping from a flyover at the busy Atomic Junction roundabout, where there are three fuel stations, transport services and restaurants. The roundabout is near a high school and the University of Ghana campus.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the deputy minister of information, said the government deployed about 12 fire engines and 200 police personnel to cordon off the scene and manage traffic.
“A lot of people quickly rushed away, which is what saved a lot of lives but also caused a lot of panic,” he said.
Fire crews were still at the scene yesterday morning, damping down the tanker with water. Cars and a minibus near the site were burnt out.
Ghana’s capital was the scene of a similar fire and explosion at a petrol station in June 2015, which killed more than 150.
In May this year, scores of people were injured when a tanker discharging natural gas exploded in the western city of Takoradi.
The latest incident sparked outrage on social media about the safety of Ghana’s filling stations, many of which are near schools, hospitals and businesses.
A petition was created addressed to Mr Akufo-Addo, demanding better regulation and inspection of existing and proposed facilities.
Proposals include siting filling stations at least 50 metres from homes and 100 metres
The fire and blasts gutted a liquefied gas filling station and a nearby petrol station in Accra on Saturday night
from schools and hospitals. Abena Awuku, a Ghanaian living in the Netherlands, proposed the measures on the change.org site, saying fuel stations were “all disasters waiting to happen”.
“There was a similar incident two years ago and we were fed lies and empty promises about regulations going to be put in place,” she said.